Potsdam purchasing new lights for high school auditorium

POTSDAM  Work on Phase II of the Potsdam Central School Districts $18 million capital project included the installation of new lights in the high school auditorium.

For the past several years, the district has borrowed lights from SUNY Potsdam, but Superintendent Patrick H. Brady said this year those lights are no longer available.

We had talked about including lights in the capital project, Mr. Brady said, noting that after speaking with the districts consultant, he has been told it would be OK for the district to purchase the lights now in advance of the work to be completed either this summer or next summer.

The other option, Mr. Brady said, would be renting the lights.

After looking into that option, Mr. Brady said it was discovered that the school could rent lights from a company in Burlington, Vt,. for $2,500. However, someone from the school would have to drive to Vermont to pick up the lights and then return them.

Once the districts 84.3 percent building aid ratio is taken into consideration, Mr. Brady said, the district could purchase the lights themselves for $2,800.

We could spend $2,800 and own them, or we could spend $2,500 and only use them once, he said.

Board of education member Wade A. Davis, who chairs the buildings and grounds committee, said purchasing the lights for $16,200 and receiving building aid back on the purchase was something he supported.

The district is hoping to have the lights in time for its annual spring production.

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